Small Compline is used every evening after supper when there is no All-Night Vigil and when Great
Compline is not appointed instead.
Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth,
Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and abide in us and
cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy
Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King. Come, let us worship and fall down before
Christ, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ
Himself, our King and our God.
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PSALM 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; according to the
multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly
from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and
my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that
which is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified in Thy sentence and blameless
in Thy judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sins did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach
me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash
me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones
which Thou hast broken rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within
me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then
I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will return to Thee. Deliver me
from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing
aloud of Thy deliverance. O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show
forth Thy praise. For Thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering,
Thou wouldst not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good to Zion in Thy
good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then wilt Thou delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on
Thine altar.
PSALM 69
Be pleased, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let them be put
to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let them be turned back and brought
to dishonor who desire my hurt. Let them be appalled because of their shame who
say, “Aha, Aha!” May all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee. May those
who love Thy salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God! Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry!
PSALM 142
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications. In Thy faithfulness answer
me, in Thy righteousness. Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for no man
living is righteous before Thee. For the enemy has pursued me; he has crushed my
life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore
my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember the days
of old, I meditate on all that Thou hast done; I muse on what Thy hands have
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wrought. I stretch out my hands to Thee; my soul thirsts for Thee like a parched
land. Make haste to answer me, O Lord. My spirit fails. Hide not Thy face from
me, lest I be like those who go down to the Pit. Let me hear in the morning of Thy
steadfast love, for in Thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to Thee
I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. I have fled to Thee for refuge.
Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Let Thy good spirit lead me
on a level path. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
In Thy righteousness bring me out of trouble. And in Thy steadfast love cut off my enemies, and
destroy all my adversaries, for I am Thy servant.
THE LESSER DOXOLOGY
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise
Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee
for Thy great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the
Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father, Who takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Thou
that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the
right hand of the Father have mercy on us. For Thou alone art holy, Thou alone art
Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every night will I give thanks to Thee and praise Thy Name for ever and ever.
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have
mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Lord, I have fled unto
Thee. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. For with Thee is the fountain
of life, and in Thy light shall we see light. O continue Thy mercy unto those who
know Thee.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord,
God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy Name forever. Amen. Let Thy
mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on Thee. Blessed art Thou, O
Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Master, make me to understand
Thy commandments. Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me with Thy precepts.
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: despise not the works of Thy hands.
To Thee belongeth worship, to Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth glory: to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
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THE SYMBOL OF FAITH
I believe in one God, the Father almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten, begotten of the
Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of
one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and
for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius
Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according
to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father,
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke
by the Prophets.
In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the
remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world
to come. Amen.
Here, one or more canons or akathists may be read, followed by:
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure
and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond
compare than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the
Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy
Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
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Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
R. Amen.
Then, on Sunday through Thursday nights, the troparia and kontakia of the day are sung,
followed by “O God of our Fathers…” (see p. 8). The troparia for each weekday are
presented here, pointed according to the Obikhod (L’vov/Bakhmetev) tones. On Friday
nights, however, only the troparion “O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets…”, and the
troparia that follow, are sung (see p. 8). On Saturday nights, the troparion and kontakion
of the Resurrection are sung in the appointed tone (the Resurrectional troparia and
kontakia are not presented here).
ON SUNDAY NIGHT: THE BODILESS HOSTS
Tone 4 Troparion
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts,
we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry out to you://
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!”
Tone 2 Kontakion
Commanders of God’s armies
and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless angels
and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
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ON MONDAY NIGHT: ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER
Tone 2 Troparion
The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise,
but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner.
Thou wast shown in truth to be the most honorable of the Prophets,
for thou wast deemed worthy to baptize in the streams of the Jordan Him Whom
they foretold.
Therefore, having suffered for the truth with joy,
thou didst proclaim to those in hell God Who appeared in the flesh,
Who takes away the sin of the world//
and grants us great mercy.
Tone 2 Kontakion
O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace,
we have found thy head as a sacred rose.
Therefore we always receive healings from it,//
and, as in times past, now thou preachest repentance to the world.
ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT: THE HOLY CROSS
Tone 1 Troparion
O Lord, save Thy people,
and bless Thine inheritance!
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians
over their adversaries;
and by virtue of Thy Cross,//
preserve Thy habitation!
Tone 4 Kontakion
As Thou wast voluntarily raised upon the Cross for our sake,
grant mercy to those who are called by Thy Name, O Christ God;
make all Orthodox Christians glad by Thy power,
granting them victories over their adversaries//
by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Thy weapon of peace!
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ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT: THE HOLY APOSTLES AND ST. NICHOLAS
Tone 3 Troparion (Apostles)
O holy Apostles,
entreat the merciful God//
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions!
Tone 4 Troparion (St. Nicholas)
In truth thou wast revealed to thy flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
thy humility exalted thee;
and thy poverty enriched thee.
O Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God//
that our souls may be saved!
Tone 2 Kontakion (Apostles)
Today Christ the Rock glorified with highest honor
Peter, the rock of faith and leader of the apostles,
together with Paul and the company of the Twelve,
whose memory we celebrate with eagerness of faith,//
giving glory to the One Who gave glory to them.
Tone 3 Kontakion (St. Nicholas)
Thou didst appear as a priest in Myra, O Saint Nicholas,
fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, O venerable one;
thou didst lay down thy life for thy people
and didst rescue the innocent from death.
Therefore, thou hast been blest as a great initiate of the grace of God.
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On Sunday through Thursday nights, the reader continues:
O God of our fathers, Who at all times showest loving-kindness to us, take not Thy
mercy away from us, but through the prayers of Thy saints guide our lives in
peace.
As with fine porphyry and royal purple, Thy Church has been adorned with Thy
martyrs’ blood shed throughout all the world. She cries to Thee, O Christ God:
“Send down Thy bounties on Thy people, grant peace to Thy habitation and great
mercy to our souls!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is
neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, but life everlasting!
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of all the saints and of the Theotokos, grant us Thy peace, and
have mercy on us, O Lord, for Thou alone art compassionate!
But on Friday nights, the reader instead reads:
O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets, Hierarchs, Holy Monks, and Righteous Ones,
who completed well the fight and kept the faith, you have boldness before the Savior.
We pray: “Intercede for us with Him, as He is good, that He may save our
souls!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is
neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, but life everlasting!
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The universe offers Thee the God-bearing Martyrs as the first fruits of creation, O
Lord and Creator. By their prayers keep Thy Church, Thy habitation, in abiding
peace through the Theotokos, O most Merciful One!
Then, regardless of the day of the week, the reader continues:
Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Thou Who at every season and every hour, in Heaven and on earth,
art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering,
merciful and compassionate;
Who lovest the just and showest mercy upon the sinner; Who callest all
men to salvation through the promise of blessings to come: O Lord, in this hour
receive our supplications and direct our lives according to Thy commandments.
Sanctify our souls, hallow our bodies, correct our thoughts,
cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulations,
evil, and distress. Surround us with Thy holy Angels,
that guided and guarded by their host, we may attain to the unity of the Faith, and
to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory; for Thou art blessed unto ages
of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the
Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos,
we magnify thee.
In the Name of the Lord, Father, bless.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on us.
R. Amen
